Apple has long been a technology leader in the smartphone industry. Still, one of its ambitions as of late has been to become more independent and reduce its reliance on companies like Qualcomm or Broadcom.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Reveals that the Company Halted Wi-Fi Chip Production
According to the story by Giz China, Apple was reportedly developing their own 5G chips for use in their devices and a Wi-Fi chip with plans to debut in 2024.
Apple's plans to become independent regarding components of its devices are being put on hold. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company has halted the development of its Wi-Fi chip, which was set to debut in 2024, due to "insufficient resources" being directed towards the 3nm chip for future iPhones, as explained in an article by Mac Rumors.
Apple's Main Goal is to Combine All Chips into One Solution
Kuo's report also provides insight into Apple's larger goal. The dream is to combine Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular chips into a single solution. Apple is currently working on a 5G cellular modem to replace Qualcomm's, and the same goes for radio-frequency chips and chips for wireless charging-all the company currently gets from Qualcomm.
This news means that Broadcom will remain Apple's Wi-Fi chips provider, as seen in an article by Phone Arena. This represents a major shift from the first plan, which Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said would include the launch of a new Wi-Fi + Bluetooth chip for iPhones to begin transitioning from Broadcom components by 2025.
Apple is Waiting to Launch a Product with the Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7
Although the development of the Wi-Fi chip has been halted, it is still unclear what Apple's plans are for the combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo chip. It is clear, however, that Apple wants to combine Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular chips into a single solution and become increasingly independent, which is why the company has been working on its own 5G chips to free itself from its ties with Qualcomm.
The recent adjustments may make that goal more difficult, but it remains an important goal for Apple. At this point, Apple will wait to launch a product with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 available as standards before they develop their own Wi-Fi chip. With the continually developing Wi-Fi standards, this will be risky, as the company will need to ensure its chip is up to par with the newest standards.
Broadcom Could Remain Apple's Provider for the Wi-Fi Chips
The chip was expected to be a major move for Apple, as it would significantly improve the iPhone's battery and sound performance. But with Apple halting the development, it seems Broadcom will remain a major part of iPhone's development.
With the development of Apple's Wi-Fi chip on hold for the foreseeable future, Broadcom will remain the provider of Wi-Fi chips for Apple. Apple likely had its reasons for halting the project, but in the end, it has stifled the company's plans to become independent.
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